Stadium not in public's best interest

If it's too good to be true ...

When the Real soccer team owner blew in to Utah dazzling elected officials with the idea of a soccer stadium, common sense went out the window. He had mayors vying to have the soccer stadium in their cities, suggesting it was a "win-win" deal. There are no losers, because it's not "real money," it's only taxpayers' money.

The stadium deal brought out the "good" and the "not so good" in some elected officials and an entrepreneur who wooed, cajoled and promised all kinds of benefits to the chosen city and its inhabitants. Salt lake City's first offer did not fly. Later, Sandy seemed to be the chosen one, except it had to get the help of Salt Lake County to pull off the deal. The county mayor turned the first proposal down flat. The numbers did not make sense and it was too costly.

The cities that wanted to use redevelopment funds (RDA) were thwarted by the state Legislature, which hurriedly passed a law prohibiting public monies to be used to fund recreational facilities, including stadiums. It seemed to be directed at Salt Lake City (perhaps because its mayor lost favor with the Legislature) because later, they got creative and put together an idea using public funding that would get around the RDA legislation they passed earlier. But, if it walks and quacks like a duck ...

Somehow, legislators got caught up in the salesman's hype trying to figure out a way to help Sandy City get some public funds using Salt Lake County tax dollars. In the meantime, the county's elected officials were trying to respond to what their constituents (70 percent according to a Dan Jones' poll) felt important: preserving open space for parks, trails and recreational facilities. They were also trying to figure out how to fund the much needed $900 million dollar TRAX expansion.

The soccer owner kept up the pressure by reverting to telemarketing-type tactics, giving deadlines and ultimatums, including threats to take the team elsewhere if they did not take the deal by a certain time. The deadline came and went; he issued another deadline. After the Salt Lake County mayor turned down the soccer owner's deal saying it was not a good deal for the citizens, the owner's true colors came out, calling the Salt Lake County Council members' behavior "bush league" and "unprofessional" (Deseret Morning News June 8).

The week before last Tuesday's County Council meeting, the soccer owner put on a full-court press, including a meeting with Salt Lake City, Sandy, and team officials, the governor, the House speaker and others, to put pressure on the county to approve the stadium deal. Added pressure came when the owner prematurely announced a deal by holding dinner and a ground-breaking ceremony prior to the Saturday game, even though there was no deal. Furthermore, he again extended his deadline to Sunday. Talk about "bush league."

Comments